Support for bubble light device



p 25, 1951 H. SILVER ET AL 2,569,078

SUPPORT FOR BUBBLE LIGHT DEVICE Filed April 15, 1948 WNW A TTORNE'XS'Patented Sept. 25,1951

tunnel) PATENT OFFICE 2,569,078 SUPPORT FOR BUBBLE LTGHT DEVICE Cohen,Bridgeport, Conn ass'igno'rs' toM. Goldman & Company, In c,, Bridgeport,001111., a

corporation of Connecticut Application April 15, 1948, Serial No.21;

2 Claims. (Cl. 240440) 1 Tfifiifiviltioh fl-ates t dViES which pro- 311dfieci'atlv blibbl lighting @ffeiSt-QIHG ihOl pai'ti-elll l'lv to devicesOf this type as adapted for use as Christmastree ornaw Bubble lightsasii'sed on Christmas trees generally com rise a bubble unit in the formof an upiight g'lass tube having a low boiling point solution in it, anda holder usually formed of molded'plastie parts encasi'ng the lowerportion of theiglae's tube and also encasi ng arr-electric bulb whichSupplies light, and supplies heat to thelcwer end of the glass tube. Theparts of the plastic holder are usually translucent and ornamentai indesign to provide an attractive lighting *eflect; and-the bubbling ofthe solution lass tubeprodu'c'es an animated effect considered to beattractive andornamentalgandwell adapted to decorate the tree.

vnnff biectof the present invention is to pro- ,vide an improvedilluminated bubbling device for producing a novel, very attractive anddecorative eifect characterized by slow-moving, suspended compositebubbles, which effect isextre nely interesting tonbserve, and whichprofvicies, a highly desirable ornamentation for a tree orthe like. H 7Another object o'f'the invention is to provide improved bubble lightdevices as above, whichare uniform in then operation and readily respont6 the moderate amounts of heat from small Ch istmas tree bulbs. V

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved bubble lightcharacterized as above, which is economical to manufactur'e. Yetanother'object of the invention is to provide an ornamental Christmastree bubble light 'having improved and inexpensive'mea'ns whereby it maybe readily secured or clipped to -a branch or the tree.

In accomplishing the above objects] there is provided by the invention anovel bubble unit by which certain artistic and attractive effects :areobtained, inconjunction with an improved holder for the unit whereby avery advantageous and at the same time economical-to-prodiice device ishad. The bubble unit comprises an upright transparent tube having twoinimiscible liquid bodies therein, together with means for facilitatingbubbling, whereby'nuin'erous attractive composite bubbles havingpleasing;light-reflec'ting qualities are produced in the tube and remainsuspended therein-in slow movemerit, to efiectan attractive and strikingappeartime. The bubbles are each composed of two ,2 parts-,- a gaseouspart and a liquid part, the gaseous part being small and being containedwith in the other part, and both said parts. having generally sphericalperipheries. The bubbles collect in substantial quantities in thetranspar ent tube, and move relatively slowly first up and down in theuppermost of the liquid bodies, appearing to be suspended therein. Byvirmeet their two-part makeup, they present lightreflecting surfaceswhich give them a somewhat pearly, attractive appearance.

Various liquids may be employed in the tube to produce the above effect,according to the in vention, the liquids however having differentdensities whereby one liquid occupies the lowermost portion of the glasstube and the other liquid body occupies a position above the first body;The lowermost liquid has a lower boiling point than the upper liquid,and the latter preferably has a substantial degree of viscosity.

The liquid of the lower body, having the high density-and high boilingpoint, may be methylene chloride or Freon, or may be a mixture of thesetwo. The upper body of liquid, having the lower boiling point and lowerdensity, according to the invention is an aqueous solution preferablycontaining a wetting agent of substantial viscosity, and may comprise amixture of glycerine and water, or of sugar and water, or of glycol. andwater. We have found that the use of methlene chloride for the heavierliquid and a solution of fifty-five per cent glycerine and forty-fiveper cent water for the lighter solution is advantageous to produce theattractive bubbling effect outlined above.

To facilitate the bubbling action a granular substan e is disposed inthe glass tube to rest Christmas tree by clipping it to a branchthereof.

In one embodiment of the invention the resilieiit clip means includes anextension within the'plastic holder, having a circular configuration andsurrounding the glass tube of the bubble Fig. 3 is an axial sectionalview of the tubular,

bubble unit of the device in a cold condition wherein no bubbles areproduced.

Fig. 4 is a view like Fig. 3 but showing thegbubble unit in operationproducing bubbles in response to heat from an incandescent electricbulb.

Fig. 5 is a top view of the device of Figs. 1 an 2.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view partly in section and partly in elevation,of the lower portion of a device illustrating a modification of theinvention.

Fig. '7 is a view like Fig. 6 but of a device illustrating anothermodification of the invention, and

Fig. 8 is a detail of a device illustrating still another modificationof the invention, showing in plan view a portion of the lower memberof-a holder, and showing a novel resilient clip means for the device.

As shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the improved bubble light of thisinvention comprises an upright tubular bubble unit II) which is carriedat its lower portion in a holder II, the holder also encasing anincandescent electric bulb I2 which provides the light and heat foroperating the device.

According to the invention, the bubble vunit III is formed in a novelmaner whereby when it responds to heat from the bulb I2 it produces alarge number of bubbles each of composite makeup, which move relativelyslowly in an upper liquid body in the unit, appearing to be suspendedtherein, the bubbles being of a nature such that they reflect light fromthe bulb I2 so as to have an attractive pearly or jewel-like appearance.

As shown in Fig. 3, the bubble unit I comprises a transparent uprighttube I3 which is preferably formed of glass, having a generally fiatbottom wall I4 and a pointed upper end or tip I5 at which the tube issealed. In the tube I3 a lower liquid body I6 is provided, and also asecond, upper liquid body II, the two bodies being immiscible and thebody I6 having a greater density and lower boiling point than the bodyl1. We have found that the body I6 may be formed of methylene chlorideor of Freon, or of a mixture of Freon and methylene chloride. The bodyI1, according to the invention is a viscous aqueous solution, and maycomprise water mixed with a wetting agent, as for example, glycerine.The aqueous body I1 may also be a solution of water and glycol, or ofwater and sugar.

We have found that by the use of the above liquids for the bodies I6 andIT, in conjunction with a granular substance I8 carried on the bottom I4of the tube to facilitate the bubbling action, a novel and veryattractive effect is obtained when heat from an electric bulb is appliedto the bottom of the tube as shown in Fig. 4. In response to such heat,the lower body of liquid I6 is caused to boil, gaseous bubbles it areformed 4 in the lower body, and these quickly ascend to the interface 20between the liquid bodies I6 and I1. Upon the gaseous bubbles I9entering the upper liquid body I! they are slowed down considerably, andattain a globular shape and a composite structure, being shown as thespherical bubbles2l.

A partial condensation .of the gas of the bubbles 2I takes place due tothe lower temperature of the upper liquid body I'I, thereby resulting ina novel bubble formed of two distinct parts, a gaseous part 22 and aliquid part 23. If the lower liquid body I6 is methylene chloride, theliquid part 23 of each globule 2I will be liquid methylene chloride andthe gaseous part 22 of each globule 2I will be gaseous methylenechloride, and a similar condition will result Where Freon is usedinstead of methylene chloride, the parts 22 and 23 of the globules 2|being then formed of gaseous Freon and liquid Freon. The bubbles 2| willremain in the upper liquid body I 1 for a time and. will slowly moveabout in the upper body, gradually condensing more and more, insofar asthe gaseous portions of the bubbles are concerned;

after reaching a certain stage in this condensation, and becomingsmaller in size the bubbles 2I will increase in density, resulting intheir traveling downward and eventually again rejoining the lower liquidbody I6. I

We have found that a solution of fifty-five per cent glycerine by weightand forty-five percent water by weight is advantageous for the upperliquid body I1, and is effective in producing bubbles as abovedescribed. As at present understood, the liquid portions 23 of thebubbles 2I have a spherical periphery, as do also the gaseous portions22 of the bubbles, the gaseous portions however being of smallerdiameter and being entirely contained within theliquid portions. Thelight from the electric bulb I2 passes upward through the liquid bodiesI6 and I1 and is reflected from the spherical surfaces of the parts 22and 23 of the bubbles, and produces a novel and attractive effectwhereby the bubbles have a pearly or jewel-like appearance, and thiseffect is also obtained when the upper liquid body'fll is formed of anaqueous solution containing'sugar, or containing glycol, v r Thegranular substance I8 may be of sand, which is preferably especiallytreated to prevent its adhering together and also clinging-to the wallsof the tube I3. We have foundv that by baking the sand at a hightemperature, for example 400 F., for a period of time the sand attains acharacter whereby the granules do not cling together or to the walls ofthe tube ,I3,-but instead may be readily agitated by the bubbling actionresulting from the heat of the bulb I 2. The sand granules may bepainted or pigmented prior to the baking, to provide different coloringeffects or to produce a silvered appearance it" desired. I

Instead of sand for the granules I8 particles of activated alumina, orof pumice may be used. Also granules of sodium chloride may be used, inwhich case it is desirable that the upper solution ll be saturated withsodium chloride to preper liquid body II instead of collecting at the,top and quickly condensing and disappearing.

By forming the upper liquid body I! to have a relatively high viscosity,the bubbles will also tend to be retained in suspension for anappreciable time.

The vapor pressure of the upper liquid is preferably less than that ofthe lower liquid, to prevent gas bubbles composed of vapor from theupper liquid being formed at the interface 20 of the liquid bodies.

By the provision of the glycerine or other wetting agent in solutionwith the water in the upper liquid body I1 the surface tension at theinterface 20 of the liquid bodies is reduced, and the gas bubbles I9 inthe lower liquid body I6 may break through the interface readily.

Any suitable coloring agents may be used in the liquid bodies I6 and IT,or either one or both of the bodies may be clear as found desirable.

The improved holding device II of the present invention comprises anupper cup-shaped part 24 and a lower cup-shaped part 25, the said partshaving rim portions 26 and 21 respectively which are adapted to besecured together faceto-face as by use of a suitable adhesive, the cups24 and 25 forming a casing or enclosure. The upper part 24 of the holderhas a central opening 28 surrounded by an upstanding flange 29 which isprovided with a plurality of cuts or slots 30, the size of the opening28 being such as to enable the lower portion of the tube I3 of thebubble unit to be inserted into the holder. The lower part 25 of theholder has a central opening 3| surrounded by a depending flange 32, theopening 3I being sufiiciently large to admit the screw base 33 of thebulb I2. A small recess 34 is formed in a wall of the opening 3| toprovide clearance for the blob of lead 35 which is usually found on thebase 33 of the bulb.

In accordance with the invention an improved resilient clip means isprovided whereby the bubble light may be readily secured to a branch ofa Christmas tree. This clip means comprises a U-shaped metal clip 36having a flat supporting portion 31 which extends inwardly of the holderII between the rim portions 26 and 21 thereof, and preferably the latterrim portion has a shallow recess in its face to accommodate thesupporting portion 3.1 of the clip. Also, a projection 38 is provided onthe lower part 25 of the holder in the said recess thereof, and thesupporting part 31 of the clip is apertured to receive the projectionwhereby the clip is securely locked in place on the holder. The upperpart 24 of the holder may have a recess 39 to provide clearance for theprojection 38. In assembling the bubble light, after the bulb I2 andclip 36 are set in place, the holder parts 24 and 25 are cementedtogether.

A modification of the invention is shown in Fig. 6 wherein thesupporting portion 31 of the clip 36 is extended inward into the holderII and is formed into a ring shape 40 so as to encircle the lowerportion of the glass tube I3 and provide a further support for the saidtube.

Another modification of the invention is shown in Fig. '7, wherein theupper part 24 of the holder II is provided with an integral U-shapeextension 4| forming a spring clip whereby the holder may be secured tothe branch of a Christmas tree.

Instead of the anchorage means comprising the pin 38 and the apertur inthe supportingportion 31 of the clip 36, a mounting clip 42 may beprovided as shown in Fig. 8, having a base portion 43 the opposite edgesof which have points or projections 44. When this clip is applied to therim portion 21 of the lower holder part 25 in the recess thereof, thepoints M will cut into the opposite walls of the recess and act tosecurely lock the clip in place.

Variations and modifications may be made within the scope of thisinvention and portions of the improvements may be used without others.

We claim:

1. A bubble light ornament for use with Christmas trees, comprising anelongate bubble unit having a bubbling solution therein, said unitincluding a tubular transparent envelope adapted to be supported in anupright position; a molded plastic holder encasing the lower end portionof the envelope; an electric bulb in said holder, in close proximity tothe lower end of the envelope; and a support means, comprising a metalring within the holder, receiving the lower end of the envelope anddisposed above said bulb, said support means also comprising anextension from said ring, passing through the said holder andterminating in a clip to mount the ornament on the branch of theChristmas tree.

2. A bubble light ornament for use with Christmas trees, comprising anelongate bubble unit having a bubbling solution therein, said unitincluding a tubular transparent envelope adapted to be supported in anupright position; a molded two-part plastic holder encasing the lowerend portion of the envelope; an electric bulb in said holder, in closeproximity to the lower end of the envelope; and a support means,comprising a metal rin within the holder, receiving the lower end of theenvelope and disposed above said bulb, said support means alsocomprising an extension from said ring passing through the said holderbetween the parts thereof and terminating in a clip to mount theornament on the branch of the Christmas tree.

LEONARD H. SILVER. EUGENE M. COHEN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,776,702 Peterson Sept. 23, 19301,895,656 Gadke Jan. 31, 1933 2,278,383 Rosenblatt Mar. 31, 19422,284,788 Wolf June 2, 1942 2,383,941 Otis Sept. 4, 1945 2,481,358 SmithSept. 6, 1949 OTHER REFERENCES Handbook of Chemistry and Physics, 21 ed.(1936), page 688, Chemical Rubber Pub. 00., Cleveland, Ohio. (Copy inDivision 65.)

